Conveyer.



PATENTED MAR. 5, 1907.

J. P. DOEHLE. GONVEYER.

APPLIUATION FILED DEC. 22, 1905.

' WIN/E8858: v

A TTORNEY 1H5 NORRIS FETERS cm, WASHINGTON, n. c.

PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. DOEHLE, OF PLAINFIELD, NEW JERSEY.

' CONVEYER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented March 5, 1907.

Application filed December 22, 1905. Serial No. 292,912.

To all Lu/tom it 77mg concern:

Be it known that I, JOHN F. DOEHLE, a subject of the Emperor of Germany,and a resident of the city of Plainfield, in the county of Union andState .of New Jersey, United States of America, have invented certainnew and useful Improvements in Conveyers, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to bucket conveyors and its object is to provide asimple and cheap construction for conveyors of this type which will havemany advantages over those now in use.

I will now describe my invention in the following specification andpoint out the novel features thereof in claims.

Referring to the drawing, Figure I is a vertical section through theline 1 2 of Fig. II of a part of my conveyer. Fig. II is a sideelevation of a part of my improved conveyer, showing the manner in whichthe various parts are connected together and also a de vice for loadingthe conveyer. Fig. III is a side elevation, on a smaller scale, of apart of one of my improved conveyors, showing one form of drivingmechanism and also showing its track with vertical curves. Fig. IV is aplan view of similar parts, showing the conveyers with horizontalcurves. Figs. V and VI are respectively end and side elevations of anarrangement which I use for automatically dumping the buckets of theconveyer.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts in all of thefigures.

A designates a rigid track or traction-rail. It is here shown as anordinary channel-iron, as this is a preferred construction. B Bdesignate rods which suspend this rail from any desired structure. Theserods B B may be run through the channel-iron and have cross-pieces Cplaced through them upon which the channel is supported. The other endof these rods may be attached to a rope or cable 11, which may besupported upon poles 10, or they may be attached to a rafter 12 of abuilding, if desired. A plurality of trolleys are arranged to run uponthis traction-rail A. In Fig. I it may be seen that these trolleyscomprise two flanged wheels I) D, which are supported upon suitablebrackets E E, which extend from the wheels D downward on either side ofthe rail A and are joined together by bolts or screws, as shown at F.

A haulage-cable G is arranged to connect a strap leys, and this cablemay be rigidly connected to the brackets E E where the brackets areconnected together at F. This haulagecable may be made of any desiredmaterialsuch, for example, as chain or ropeand the various trolleys maybe attached to it at equal distances from each other. One of thebracketsE is extended downward, as shown at E, and a hinge-piece J maybe attached to it by means of a bolt H. Another bolt- H may be insertedin this hinge-piece at right angles toI the bolt H and arranged tosupport L L designate buckets. Upon each side of these buckets are loopsM M, which are connected to the straps N N by links K K. It may be seenthen that the buckets are supported upon the trolleys by means of theselinks K K and that between the links and the lower ends E of thetrolley-brackets is a universal oint formed by the hinge-piece J and thetwo bolts H and H, which pass through it. These parts are preferably soarranged that the buckets L L are held apart from each other a certainamount, so that they may not interfere with each other when they aredriven about curves in a manner which will be pointed out later. Thisconstruction leaves a space between the buckets, and it is desirable tohave this space properly covered in order that no material may fallbetween the buckets when it is running through a chute into the buckets,as will be fully pointed out later. For this purpose I provide plates 0,which may be connected, as shown in Figs. I and V, to the hinge-piece Jby means of links I. These plates are arranged to rest upon the upperpart of buckets L, and in order to support them and keep themfromdropping in between the buckets when they run around a curve brackets PP, formed of angle-irons, may be attached to the side of the buckets andarranged to support the plates. The upper portion 0 of these plates maybe extended over the hinge-piece J and may rest upon the same.

X designates a chute through which material may be passed into thebuckets L L. It is often desirable to fill these buckets while they aremoving, and in order that this may be done simply it is desirable topass material through the chuteX continuously. The lower opening of thechute is placed directly above the mouths of the buckets, so'that thematerial passes into the buckets which are directly the various bracketsor hangers of the trol- 1 below the chute. As the buckets pass the lowerend of the chute, however, the material will be caught upon the plate 0,which covers the space between adjoining buckets, and some of thematerial will therefore rest upon the plate 0. The chute is, however,preferably provided with a vertical plate X, which is situated directlyabove these plates and is arranged to scrape off such material as hasaccumulated on the plate into the next bucket. The chute may of coursebe placed in any desirable position along the line of travel of theconveyer. The center of gravity of the buckets is preferably on theopposite side from that into which-the material passes, so that theywill normally maintain an upright position. Any tendency of the weightof material in the buckets to tilt the buckets so that their mouthswould be raised above a horizontal position may be stopped by theflanged portions 0 of the plates O, which rest upon the hinge-piece Jand prevent a farther upward movement of the mouths of the buckets. Thisflanged portion 0 also serves the purpose of protecting the hinged ointsby which the buckets are supported to the trolleys. A projecting rollerQ may, however, be provided upon each bucket, and guide-rails, such asR, (shown in Fig. I,) may be provided opposite the chute X for thepurpose of steadying the buckets while they are being filled andpreventing the material which falls into the buckets from tipping themover. Wherever it is desired to discharge the material, anotherguide-rail S may be provided, which will engage with the projectingrollers Q and act as a cam to raise the under portion of the buckets, asis shown in Figs. V and VI, and to again bring them back to their normalposition. This cam-rail S may of course be situated at any desired pointalong the path of travel of the conveyer. When the buckets are tilted inthe manner just described, the plates 0, which are attached to thehinge-piece J by links I, will also be tilted sufficiently to allow anymaterial which has not been scraped off from them to slide off. This isclearly shown in Fig. V.

Referring now to Fig. III, it may be seen that the track A isconstructed with two vertical curves. With my construction it isperfectly feasible for the conveyer-buckets to e run over such curves.Of course in doing so the distance between the buckets will be increasedor decreased; but by the arrangemom of hanging them which I haveinvented this does not interfere with their operation in any way. Whenthe trolleys are run over an upward curve in the track, it is desirableto place a guard-rail W over them in order to prevent the tension on thehaulage-cable G from lifting them from the track A. T designates adriving-wheel for the haulage-cable G, which may be rotated by anysuitable motive power. This wheel '1 may be provided with recesses T, asshown in Fig. IV, which are provided for the purpose of allowing thehanging brackets E to pass this wheel with out interference.

In Fig. IV the buckets are shown passing around horizontal curves, andin this case the wheels U and V V are preferably provided for thepurpose of guiding the haulage-cable. These wheels may be provided withrecesses U and V for allowing the hanger-brackets E to pass the wheelswithout interference. Of course these wheels may be provided with meansfor adjusting their position in order to keep the haulage-cable G atproper tension in any of the well known manners.

This bucket-conveyer system which I have invented may be very cheaplyconstructed, and because of the fact that the track which carries thebucket is suspended by rods it may be readily set up either in abuilding or in a field, for the rods B may be simply attached to a ropeor caple 11 and this cable supported in any simple manner.

The construction work for the track may be made with very little weightcompared with the amount of work which the conveyer is capable of doing.It is also a very simple conveyer to maintain and keep in order, as allof its parts are accessible for lubrication and for repairs.

The construction which I have specifically described is merely toillustrate the use of my invention, which, of course, may be constructed in many different waysfor example, the universal joint may bedispensed with, or the buckets may be suspended by means of chainsinstead of links.

What I claim is .1. In a conveyer, a rigid track, supports arranged tosuspend and hold the track, a se ries of trolleys connected together andarranged to run upon the track, a series of buckets and links connectingadjacent buckets, said links being connected to the trolleys.

2. In a conveyer, a rigid track, a stationary cable, rods connecting thetrack to the cable, a series of trolleys connected together and arrangedto run upon the track, each of. said trolleys comprising a pair ofwheels with one wheel on either side of the rods, a series of buckets,links connecting adjacent buckets, said links being connected to thetrolleys.

3. In a conveyer, a rigid track having ver tical and horizontal curves,supports arranged to hold and suspend the track, a series of trolleysarranged to run upon the track, a haulage-cable to which said trolleysare connected, a series of buckets, and links connecting each bucket totwo of said trolleys.

4. In a conveyer, the combination of a series of connected buckets, arigid track, sup ports arranged to suspend and to hold the track,trolleys arranged to run on the track, each of said trolleys comprisinga pair of IIO wheels, one of said wheels on either side of thetrack-supports, and links arranged to flexibly connect the bucketstogether and to flexibly connect each of said buckets to two of saidtrolleys.

5. In a conveyer, a suspended rigid track therefor, rods arranged tosupport the track, trolleys arranged to run on the track, each of saidtrolleys comprising a pair of wheels with one wheel on either side ofthe rods, brackets on either side of the track, said brackets arrangedto support the wheels, a series of buckets and intermediate connectionsbetween the brackets and the buckets arranged to flexibly connect eachof the buckets to two of the brackets.

6. In a conveyer, the combination of a series of hanging buckets, arigid track having horizontal and vertical curves and links flexiblyconnecting the buckets together and to the track.

7. In a' conveyer, a track therefor, a plurality of trolleys arranged torun on said track connections between the trolleys and a plurality ofbuckets flexibly connected to the trolleys and also to each other.

8. In a conveyer, a track therefor, a plurality of trolleys arranged torun on said track, a plurality of buckets and links connecting thebuckets to thetrolleys and to each other.

9. In a conveyer, a rigid track therefor, a plurality of trolleysarranged to run on said track, a haulage-cable, said trolleys beingrigidly connected to the cable, and a plurality of buckets flexiblyconnected to the trolleys and also to each other.

10. In a conveyer, a suspended rigid track I therefor, a plurality oftrolleys arranged to run on said track, a plurality of buckets, linksarranged to connect the buckets to the trolleys and to each other, and ahaulage-cable connected to the trolleys.

11. In a conveyer, a suspended rigid track therefor, a plurality oftrolleys arranged to run on said track. brackets on either side of andmeans for positively driving said haulagecable.

13. In a conveyer, a suspended rigid track therefor, a plurality oftrolleys arranged to run on said track,'brackets on either side of thetrack, a plurality of buckets flexibly con haulage-cable for thetrolleys, said brackets being rigidly connected to the haulage-cable,and wheels arranged to drive saidhaulagecable, said wheels beingprovided with recesses for said brackets.

14. In a conveyer, the combination of a suspended rigid track, aplurality of trolleys arranged to run on said track, a plurality ofbuckets flexibly connected to the trolleys and to each other, and platesarranged to cover the space between said buckets.

15. In a conveyer, the combination of a suspended rigid track, aplurality of trolleys arranged to run thereon, wheels for said trolleys,brackets for supporting the wheels, a plurality of buckets and auniversal joint between each trolley and buckets.

16. In a conveyer, the combination of a suspended rigid track, aplurality of trolleys arranged to run thereon, wheels for said trolleys,a plurality of buckets, brackets, and links arranged to connect saidbuckets to said trolleys and to each other and plates arranged to coverthe space between the buckets, said plates being flexibly connected tothe brackets.

I 17. In a conveyer, the combination of a suspended rigid track, aplurality of trolleys arranged to run thereon, wheels and brackets forsaid trolleys, a plurality of buckets, links arranged to connect saidbuckets to said brackets, and to each other and plates arranged to restupon the buckets and to cover the space between the buckets, said platesbeing flexibly connected to the brackets and arranged to move freely inone direction but not in the opposite direction.

18. In a conveyer, the combination of a suspended rigid track, aplurality of trolleys arranged to run thereon, wheels and brackets forsaid trolleys, a plurality of buckets. links arranged to connect thebuckets to the trolleys and to each other, plates arranged to cover thespace between the buckets, said plates being connected to the brackets,a haulage-cable connected to said brackets and a chute above the path oftravel of the buckets.

19. In a conveyer, the combination of a suspended rigid track, aplurality of trolleys arranged to run thereon, wheels for said trolleys,a plurality of buckets, links arranged to connect the buckets to thetrolleys and to each other, plates arranged to cover the space betweenthe buckets, said plates being connected to the buckets, a haulage-cableconnected to said brackets and a chute above the path of travel of thebuckets, said chute being provided with a scraping-surface.

20. In a conveyer, the combination of a suspended rigid track, aplurality of trolleys arranged to run thereon, wheels for said trolleys,a plurality of buckets, links arranged to connect the buckets to thetrolleys and to nected to the trolleys and to each other, a each other,plates arranged to cover the space between the buckets, said platesbeing the brackets, a haulage-cable connected to connected to thebrackets, a haulage-cable connected to said brackets, a chute above thepath of travel of the buckets, a projection upon each bucket and meansopposite the chute arranged to engage with said projections and tosteady the buckets while they are being filled.

21. In a conveyer, the combination of a suspended rigid track, aplurality of trolleys arranged to run thereon, wheels and brackets forsaid trolleys, a plurality of buckets, and links arranged to connect thebuckets to the trolleys and to each other, plates arranged to cover thespace between the buckets, said plates being connected to the brackets,a haulage-cable connected to said brackets, a chute above the path oftravel of the buckets, a projection upon each bucket and means forautomatically tilting the buckets by their own movement.

22. In a conveyer, the combination of a suspended rigid track, aplurality of trolleys arranged to run thereon, wheels for said trolleys,brackets for said wheels, a plurality of buckets, links arranged toconnect the buckets to the brackets and to each other, plates arrangedto cover the space between the buckets, said plates being connected tothe brackets, a haulage-cable, said brackets being connected to thehaulage-cable at equal intervals, and a wheel for positively driving thehaulage-cable.

23. In a conveyer, the combination of a suspended rigid track, aplurality of trolleys arranged to run thereon, wheels for said trolleys,brackets for said wheels, a plurality of buckets, and links arranged toconnect the buckets to the trolleys and to each other, plates arrangedto cover the space between the buckets, said plates being connected tothe brackets, a haulage-cable connected to said brackets, a chute abovethe path of travel of the buckets, a projectionupon each bucket, meansopposite the chute arranged to engage with said projections and tosteady the buckets while they are being filled, and a cam arranged toengage with said projections and to tilt the buckets by their ownmovement.

24. In a conveyer, the combination of a suspended rigid track, aplurality of trolleys arranged to run thereon, wheels for said trolleys,brackets for the wheels, a plurality of buckets, and links arranged toconnect the buckets to the trolleys and to each other, plates arrangedto cover the space between the buckets, said plates being connected tosaid brackets, a chute above the path of travel of the buckets, aprojection upon each bucket, means opposite the chute arranged to engagewith said projections and to steady the buckets while they are beingfilled, and a cam arranged to tilt the buckets over and back again bytheir own movement.

25. In a conveyer, the combination of a suspended rigid track,supporting-rods therefor, a cable, said rods being attached to the trackand to the cable, a plurality of trolleys arranged to run on the track,flanged wheels for said trolleys, brackets for supporting said wheels, aplurality of buckets, links arranged to connect the buckets to thebrackets and to each other, a universal joint interposed. between thelinks and the brackets, plates arranged to cover the space between thebuckets, said plates being connected to the brackets and arranged toprevent the tilting of the buckets in one direction, a haulage-cable,said brackets being attached to the haulage-cable at equal intervals, awheel arranged to drive the haulage-cable, a chute above the path oftravel of the buckets, a projecting roller upon each bucket, meansopposite the chute arranged to engage with said projections and tosteady the buckets while they are being filled and a cam arranged totilt the buckets over and back again by their own movement.

26. In a conveyer, the combination of a rigid track, supports forsuspending and holding the track, trolleys arranged to run 011 the trackand links connecting each bucket to two of said trolleys, said linksbeing arranged to allow the distances between the buckets to vary.

27. In a conveyer, the combination of a series of buckets, means forconnecting the buckets together, said means being arranged so that thedistance between the buckets may vary, a rigid track, supports arrangedto suspend and to hold the track, trolleys arranged to run on the track,each of said trolleys comprising apair of wheels, one of said wheels oneither side of the track-supports, and links arranged to flexiblyconnect the buckets togetlier and to flexibly connect each of saidbuckets to two of said trolleys.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

JOHN F. DOEHLE.

Witnessesz JosEPH E. CAVANAUGH, ERNEST W. MARSHALL.

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